THE BEGINNING

Whether it is the thrill, winning, risk, competitiveness or sheer adventure, there is something about casinos that spark a fire of interest in the gambling community. One region that ranks high in adulation is the United States. We could most likely thank Las Vegas for introducing the nation to one of the hottest gambling destinations on earth. Regardless of any negative connotations linked to the mafia in yesteryear, the casino movement persevered and took not only the American public by storm but the world.

A NEW GAMBLING FRONTIER OPENS

A new wave of excitement erupted, and it swept through the U.S. like wildfire in the mid-1990’s. The gambler was about to embark on a new journey of participation, all through the wonderful world of online casinos. It brought about Americans who seized the opportunity for this new internet gambling concept where it flourished and took off like gangbusters!

Among the first online casinos to enter this new arena was Internet Casinos in 1995 later followed by The Gambling Club and Intertops Casino. The early igaming software at that time was Cryptologic and Microgaming aka the “Godfather” in the industry. Before you knew it, newly launched sites including poker and sports betting portals were popping up everywhere and for the U.S., the sky was the limit.

THE UIGEA – EYE OF BAD STORM

You might say this at home convenience was too good to be true and it was inevitable, the bough would break at some point. Well, not exactly, perhaps a crack when then-President George W. Bush’s administration imposed The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). Naturally, it caused pandemonium for players who woke up and discovered they could no longer make deposits at their favorite sites.

After sifting through legalities of the new law it gave a sigh of relief because contrary to what some may think, the player isn’t breaking the law, it is the financial institutions that the gavel has come down hard on. Banks are no longer allowed to fund any accounts for the purpose of gambling; therefore, a middleman or other means to fund accounts have popped up replacing traditional methods.

After the UIGEA had gone into effect, many U.S. betting portals shut down altogether. At that point, only a few were still taking bets from players in this region. Most of them were running only RTG software and were licensed in Costa Rica. Many weren’t worth playing at or trustworthy.

BEHIND THE CLOUD A SILVER LINING FOR U.S. PLAYERS

Today we display only the finest and most trusted online casinos available for play in the United States. Most of these online casinos are above and beyond a single platform of products and provide multiple software including proprietary games too. There are still the longtime favorites like Real Time Gaming (RTG) that have endured the test of time attracting a broad audience.

The U.S. facing sites we list are known to pay their affiliates and customers promptly earning the integrity and respect required to run an honest business. Many states are now providing licensing and regulating their own internet casinos. Land based operators are also opening their online counterparts. If you live in one of these locations, we recommend using the ones that are regulated. For players living outside of these jurisdictions, it’s still a challenge to find the right place where you can play and feel safe. That’s where our online casino guide comes in handy.

For many operators, they have regained their faith in the industry with the resurgence of new software to help fill the void left in 2006. Software like Saucify, NuWorks, Wager Gaming Technology, Rival and Slotland Entertainment accommodate the U.S. market. Along with a handful of other software brands, these companies are instrumental in providing a large stable of slots and table games desperately needed for this region.

Please check back as we are continually adding new sites to our list. If you feel that any of these casinos aren’t worthy to be on our U.S. list, please contact us immediately where we will reevaluate.